The Day of Refuge

The Day of Refuge is an Antaran national holiday celebrated each year on the winter solstice. It is the largest, most celebrated holiday in all of Antarand.

The Day of Refuge is a chance for us to celebrate each other, and for the kids to learn about their history. It also means we get to have some fun in the middle of winter.

History

The winter solstice has been an unofficial holiday in Antarand for most of its history, as most of the groups living in the country have religious holidays that they celebrate on or around this time. As the groups become further integrated, religious rituals began to shift and merge. In some areas, groups who didn't celebrate on the night of the solstice shifted their celebrations, such as in the city of Teilos, where Pelan children took to caroling on that night, instead of the traditional fifth night after. In 1857, the Antaran King declared the day a national holiday, and since that time, the festivities have only grown.

Celebration Today

by Marian G. Ruggiero

On the Day of Refuge, almost all businesses close for the day. Those that don't often stay open in the spirit of the day, such as a restaurant that hosts a public meal. Those that must stay open, such as hospitals, usually try to ensure their employees have shorter shifts, so they can participate in some of the festivities, as well as try to bring some of the festivities to the location itself with decorations, and sometimes visiting performers. One place that does not decorate for the holiday is Unity Bathhouse, which stays open for more observant people who may wish to purify themselves on this day. Bathhouse employees are usually given shorter shifts, however. Some businesses additionally close the following day so employees have a day of rest after the days activities.
Most Antaran schools also close on this day, though only a few close the day after. Children are encouraged to take part in the festivities and learn about the history of the country and the many people who populate it.

Most cities have day-long festivals that include events such as boat rides, face painting, dancing, archery and wood carving lessons, as well as re-enactments of The First Government of Antarand. Usually, someone dresses up Teadoro Albescu and roams the festival offering people curious prophecies. Most people attend in orange, white, and blue, the colors of the Antaran flag.

The Role of Temples

I lament any astromythologists on this day. How sad it must be to not have a faith.

The best place to celebrate is Temple Street in Forgecard Falls because the temples are open throughout the day with activities to pass on stories and aspects of their culture to any who come. The temples in most cities are the primary organizers of festivities as well as the reason that the tone of the events changes on an almost hourly basis.

Mun/Islanders

Because the First Islanders were the first to the island, the celebrations begin and end with them. Those who are early enough to catch the sunrise will be invited to take part in a traditional sun greeting. This is not part of the Mun tradition, but specific to the culture of the Bathblast Islands. The First Islanders are also most commonly the group who perform the re-enactment of the first government. the First Islanders will continue to teach children and other visitors songs and dances until sunset. In coastal cities, they will also teach people how to sail their boats. The day ends after the sun has gone down, at the Mun temple, with a traditional candlelit solstice service.

Yub

During the day time activities, visitors to the Yub temple can learn about the plight the Yub faced in Liri. Nearing noon, the temple holds a traditional goat-butchering, which is then cooked and served as part of a public meal.

Xurugwi

by Nathana Reboucas

Activities hosted by the Xurugwi temple are often the favorites of children. The Xurugwi paint faces, teaching people about the significance of the colors and designs used in their rituals. They also usually teach people the Wedding Dance. But the most loved activity led by the Xurugwi is known as the Consecration of Clothing. Traditionally, this is a time when Xurugwi followers wear new clothes, which are then soaked in water mixed with essential oils. This is symbolic of the new joining with the past (represented by the water.) Though this can be done in many ways, the moderate temperatures of Antarand mean it can be done in the preferred method, which is to through soaked sponges at one another. Because traditionally, this occurs at the same time as the Yub solstice tradition (noon), many cities have the Consecration of Clothing immediately following the goat slaughter, which allows the Yub leaders time to roast the meat.

The water-logged festival-goers then return to the Yub temple to dry in the sunshine while eating a variety of foods. The Xurugwi also give out flip-flops and traditional bone jewelry made of antler, rather than human bone.

Pelan

The Pelan are first and foremost involved with the food behind the festivities, with all members of the temple involved in preparing food for the day, coordinating with the Yub temple to ensure enough people are available to help prepare and serve the meat after the goat-butchering, and with all the other organizers to ensure those who are hosting the event are properly fed. They also educate visitors to their temple about the history of their people, teaching children to tie an Ibi'an and teaching older visitors archery.

They also teach Pelan prayers and the significance of their solstice holiday, which celebrates the unity of the proto-Pelan tribes. At dusk, the children travel from temple to temple, singing the prayers and receiving candied fruits in return. They end at the Mun temple, in time for the solstice service. In some cities, the Pelan temple holds one final Commuity Meal after the solstice service, and tell scary stories until late into the night.

by Alex Guillau

Under Florarova

You know a true Antaran on the Day of Refuge. If you don't take the day off to teach your kids about our history, you're not an Antaran. Well... unless you work at the bathhouse or something.

Though the king declared this a national holiday, the Florarovan government does not acknowledge it. Thus, the government itself does not take the day off, though many government locations do. Though most schools close on this day, some schools, particularly those for the children of Florarovan officials, do not. Where schools do not close, however, some parents purposely take their children out for the day to participate in the festivities.

by Vidar

www.unsplash.com

Primary Related Location

Southern Islands

Related Ethnicities

• Antaran

Other Activities

There are a variety of other activities that take place in different locations across the country, often depending on what other cultures are dominant there. For example, the city of Arol, which has a larger Danos population than Pelan is known for opening the midday meal with a Danos prayer, and the evening, rather than including caroling, has people lighting incense and writing love notes which they place in the water. The cities of Gashejte Nuf and Mwakvulf are famous for their parades, and most larger cities hire performers of all varieties.

Bad Weather

Though the holiday falls during a time of low precipitation in Antarand, inclement weather must be accounted for. In a light rain, most events continue as planned. This does not highly impede turnout for outdoor activities. In a heavier rain without lightning, some activities, such as archery are moved indoors, whereas others, such as the Consecration of Clothing remain outside. Larger events, such as parades are generally postponed or canceled. In the case of lightning, all activities that can be moved indoors are, and those which cannot be are canceled or postponed until after the storm has ended.

by Krist

by Darius Sood